Information needed on an old bakelite processing tank

[fabulousrice]

I got this bakelite tank yesterday for pretty cheap.

Images here.

I have a few questions about it but when I googled what is written on it I can't really find a resource page about it:

1. how does one close it to agitate without spilling? Maybe I am missing a part;
2. how does one load the film in it? The sides of the spiral don't seem to twist to help loading, like in the Paterson system;
3. why is the spiral's radius longer than the Paterson's? Is it meant to load more length of film than a 36 exposure roll's length?
4. would I be able to use modern BW and Color chemicals in this tank without issues?

 

[MattKing]

I got this bakelite tank yesterday for pretty cheap.

Images here.

I have a few questions about it but when I googled what is written on it I can't really find a resource page about it:

1. how does one close it to agitate without spilling? Maybe I am missing a part;
2. how does one load the film in it? The sides of the spiral don't seem to twist to help loading, like in the Paterson system;
3. why is the spiral's radius longer than the Paterson's? Is it meant to load more length of film than a 36 exposure roll's length?
4. would I be able to use modern BW and Color chemicals in this tank without issues?

There are some similarities to this tank from the same company:

 

[BAC1967]

I have a similar one that has an adjustable Reel, 35mm to 70mm. You’re missing the swizzle stick that went down the center, that’s how you agitated it. It won’t seal, tipping it will leak. I never figured out a good way to get film on the reel, it‘s a major struggle.

 

[Ian Grant]

I have a similar one that has an adjustable Reel, 35mm to 70mm. You’re missing the swizzle stick that went down the center, that’s how you agitated it. It won’t seal, tipping it will leak. I never figured out a good way to get film on the reel, it‘s a major struggle.

I think this one never had a twizzle stick, I have quite a few similar British developing tanks and the bit that is also the filling funnel is the part you rotate the spiral with for agitation.

Ian

 

[Rick A]

The "swizzle stick" to agitate the reel is a specially shaped thermometer similar to the Yankee tanks of the same era. I had both the Yankee and FR tanks when I was first starting out. You could possibly agitate the film by holding your thumb over the hole and move the tank in a figure eight on the counter (same as Analog Andy w/Paterson tank). As for loading film onto the reel, good luck, you would be better served with a stainless steel set.

 

[guangong]

If memory serves me correctly, when I was a little kid my FR tank had a corrugated piece of celluloid that the film was wrapped in. The crinkled edges allowed developer, etc to flow. Leitz sold developing tanks using same principle. Eventually the celluloid became brittle and fell into pieces, making tank useless. My FR tank was from mid 1940s so perhaps not same model.

 

[mshchem]

Agitate like Andy @Andrew O'Neill Kodak dataguides shows this. You slide the tank side to side, swizzle at the beginning. My Dad did this technique for decades.

 

[MattKing]

In case it isn't clear, FR branded tanks came in a number of versions.

 

[mshchem]

Any tank can be agitated in a s-curve fashion on a hard surface like a counter top. FR, Nikor Paterson etc. Just make sure that the reel is completely immersed in the processing solutions when at rest.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Yup! Figure eights!

 

[Romanko]

I think there is a chip in this tank (first photo at the right). The tank could not be light-tight and is possibly leaking chemicals.

I used one of the earlier Paterson's to develop 70 mm film. It worked but I prefer modern tanks much better.

 

[eli griggs]

If memory serves me correctly, when I was a little kid my FR tank had a corrugated piece of celluloid that the film was wrapped in. The crinkled edges allowed developer, etc to flow. Leitz sold developing tanks using same principle. Eventually the celluloid became brittle and fell into pieces, making tank useless. My FR tank was from mid 1940s so perhaps not same model.

These celluloid and modern upgrades in material is known as aprons and are worthwhile as alternatives to having to keep multiple reels and/or tanks for every format you which you want to develop.

If you try one, just be sure to slide the loaded tank with vigor, back and forth or in a figure eight, to allow the apron and film to firmly fit against each other.